Printing machines and the like



Nov. 17, 1959 R ETAL 2,912,928

PRINTING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed May 2, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 D s i INVENTORS .A/berz Edvard? wrty Eek D Nov. 17, 1959 EDWARDS ETAL 2,912,928

PRINTING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed May 2, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvaN-roes Nov. 17, 1959 A. EDWARDS ETAL 2,

' PRINTING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed May 2, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTQRS A1660 faiwz Ha r/y Flea! New Nov. 17, 1959 A. EDWARDS EIAL 2,912,928

PRINTING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed May 2. 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 4 a J; v

INVENTORS A/iP/f E Zra/as 1181: M

Nov. 17, 1959 EDWARDS ET AL 2,912,928

PRINTING MACHINESAND THE LIKE Filed May 2, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 40/ HEB/0 United States Patent-O M PRINTING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Albert Edwards, Tirnperley, and Harry Peck, Altrincham,

England, assignors to Linotype and Machinery Limited, London, England, a British company Application May 2, 1956, Serial No. 582,269

Claims priority, application Great Britain May 3, 1955 3 Claims. (Cl. 101279) This invention relates to improvements in and relating to printing machines and the like, more particularly to feeding devices for horizontal flat bed cylinder machines, in which the feeding machine is synchronized with and driven by the printing machine and has for an object the provision of an improved arrangement which permits a feeding device to be readily attached and detached as a unitary structure to and from the printing machine by movement longitudinally of the machine.

Comparatively small printing machines of the platen type are known in which the feeding device is detachable in this way from the printing machine in order to provide for hand feeding when desired.

In these machines, in order to ensure correct synchronisation of the feeder mechanism with that of the printing machine, re-connection of the feeder device after disconnection can be accomplished only when the printing machine is in a predetermined stage of its printing cycle, and this is accomplished by manual registration of marks on the flywheel and the body of the machine.

While this procedure is reasonably easily accomplished in the case of the comparatively small machines to which it is applied, it is very cumbersome in the case of the large horizontal flat bed cylinder machines to which the present invention is directed and involves manual attention. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device which will effect automatically the desired synchronous connection when connecting the feeder machine to the printing machine.

A longitudinally detachable feeder machine for a horizontal flat bed printing machine wherein when the feeder machine is applied to the printing machine the feeder machine drive is automatically synchronised with that of the printing machine by relative rotation of the power output shaft of the printing machine and the power input shaft of the feeder machine.

The invention also consists in a detachable feeder machine for a horizontal fiat bed printing machine as described in the preceding paragraph including one or more of the features which will hereinafter be described.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a diagrammatic elevation and plan of a printing machine and a roll back feeder machine shown in full lines when in position and in dotted lines when withdrawn from the printing machine;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view in operating position of the coupling means joining the power output shaft of the printing machine to the power input shaft on the feeder machine;

Figure 4 shows the ends of the printing machine with the feeder in the fully withdrawn position;

Figure 5 is a detail of a spring catch which holds the rail when it is hinged to the feeder machine;

Figure 6 is a detail of the rear wheel of the feeder machine and the means for maintaining lateral positioning 2,912,928 Patented Nov. 17, 1959 of the rear of the feeder machine during its travel towards the printing machine;

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the buffer stop on the printing machine;

Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the synchronising coup Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged views in isometric projection and section respectively of the synchronising coupling; and

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic sketch of the electrical circuits which ensure that when the feeder machine is removed the printing machine may be inched and run only at a reduced speed.

In Figures 1 and 2 a roll back feeder machine 10 is shown connected to a printing machine 11 which has a delivery end 12 fed by a chain delivery device 23, the printing machine being driven by a main drive motor 13.

The usual air supply to the printing machine is provided by a motor 14 and a pump 15 while the feeder machine has a separate motor 16 and pump 17 for its air requirements.

The feeder machine 10 has a pair of wheels 18 at its rear arranged to run on the fioor of the room and near the front a pair of driving wheels 8 which run on rails 19.

As shown in Figures 4 and 6 the rails 19 are hinged at 7 one to each of a pair of blocks 44 fixed to the floor of the room and furnished with ramps and a stop 6 on their upper surfaces.

The rear end of each ramp is fitted with a small roller 48 mounted on a vertical axis, and as shown in Figure 6 this roller is embraced by the sides 49 of a longitudinal valance 47 depending from the base of the feeder, thus hinged upwardly and held against the feeder machine. front by spring hooks 46 engaging recesses 45 in the sides of the rails thus clearing the space between the machines and making them accessiblesee Figure 5.

Two buffers 21 shown in Figures 1 and 7 each comprise a body portion 59, a piston 51 slidable in a cylindrical bore on a rod 52 which protrudes towards the feeder machine under the pressure of a spring 53.

A vent 54 is provided in the piston to regulate the buffering effect.

A synchronising coupling shown in Figures 3, 8 and 9 comprises a semicircular half-dog coupling 27 driven from a shaft 24 on the printing machine by Way of bevel gears 25, 26 and an Oldham coupling 55. The other half 56 of the coupling is slidably but not rotatably mounted on a cylindrical part 28 which is secured to the shaft 60 carrying the bevel wheel 29.

The slidable part 56 is urged towards the part- 27 of the dog coupling by springs 58 mounted as shown on pins 57 fixed to the part 28, and a key 59 on which the part 56 slides prevents relative rotation of the half coupling on the part 28.

The bevel wheel 29 drives the bevel wheel 30 which is fixed to the driving shaft 31 and, by way of the box 32 and shaft 33 drives the feedermachine mechanism.

A shaft 60 on which the bevel gear 29 is fixed drives a shaft 61 which operates the air valves 62 associated with the feeding of the paper sheets.

Figure 10 shows diagrammatically an electrical circuit arranged to ensure that when the feeder machine is withdrawn from the printing machine electrical control connections between the printing machine and the feeder machines are completely broken and the printing machine can then be operated only by push button and at a speed which is a fraction of its normal running speed.

For this purpose, referring to Figures 4 and when the feeder machine is first correctly positioned with regard to the printing machine, lateraily by the engagement of machined surfaces 35 on the printing machine with corresponding surfaces on the inner front of the feeder machine and longitudinally by the spring latches 36 engaging rollers 37, the pins 38a to 38d engage corresponding insulated sockets in the member.

Pins 38a, b and c, connect the power supply mains from the printing machine to the feeder machine and consequently disconnects and isolates the feeder machine when these pins are withdrawn from their sockets.

Pin 38d when withdrawn a short distance from its socket breaks part of the control circuit of the printing machine, and acts in conjunction with two micro-switches 40, 41 on the lower front of the printing machine.

The circuit shown in Figure 10 operates in the following manner:

Assuming that the feeder machine has been in operative position and therefore correctly placed against the printing machine and has been unlatched ready for withdrawal. The following is a sequence of events that take place in the order shown.

Micrometer switch 40 is closed, switch 41 is open and the pins 38a to 38d connected to their sockets.

When the feeder machine has been withdrawn from the printing machine, switch 40 is arranged to open the control circuit from the stator winding 64 of the printing machine main drive motor. Upon further withdrawal to say /z separation, pin 38d is arranged to leave its socket and disconnect the control circuit from the stator winding 64 of the main drive motor from the winding of the solenoid 69 which operates switch 66 which connects together directly the rotor windings 65 of the main drive motor.

Further and final withdrawal of the feeder machine from the printing machine is arranged to close the microswitch 41 which then forms a control circuit for the main drive motor by way of the push button 70 and solenoid winding 71.

Operation of the push button then energises the solenoid 71 which closes switch 68 and connects the rotor windings through resistances 67. The value of these resistances may be made to cause the main drive motor to run at any desired fraction of its normal running speed.

If desired further micro-switches may be mounted on the printing machine and arranged to close electrical circuits, for instance for switching on conveniently placed lighting on the printing machine for inspection when the feeder machine is withdrawn or for indicating correct assembly when the feeder machine is brought into the operative position with relation to the printing machine.

We claim:

1. In combination, a horizontal flat bed printing machine, a sheet feeder machine movable into and out of operative relation to said printing machine, power means for driving the printing cylinder of the printing machine and operating a power output shaft mounted on the frame of the printing machine, means for feeding sheets to be printed successively to said printing machine in synchronism with and in predetermined relationship with the operation of the printing cylinder, said sheet feeding means being operated by a power input shaft mounted on the frame of the feeder machine, a coupling means for connecting and disconnecting said power output and power input shafts, said coupling means comprising a fixed member on the power output shaft of the printing machine, a slidable member mounted non-rotatably on the power input shaft of the feeder machine, the two said members being formed for engagement at one point only in the rotation of the power output shaft, and resilient means associated with and actuating said slidable member, the arrangement being such, that when the feeder machine is moved into operative relation to the printing machine after separation therefrom, the aforesaid members of the coupling means are automatically engaged by the resilient means to thereby restore synchronism in the operation of the printing cylinder and the sheet feeding means.

2. The combination as described in claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a universal connecting member, thereby permitting operative connection between the coupling members in spite of slight axial misalignment of the shafts.

3. The combination as described in claim 1, wherein said power driving means for the printing machine comprises an electric motor, and wherein control means are provided for reducing the speed of said electric motor automatically and only operable by push button when the feeder machine is moved out of operative relation to the printing machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 205,357 Cottrell June 25, 1878 1,630,252 Blaine May 31, 1927 1,657,203 English Jan. 24, 1928 1,691,656 Kelly Nov. 13, 1928 1,849,219 Belluche Mar. 15, 1932 2,425,167 Whitehead Aug. 5, 1947 2,444,547 Whitehead July 6, 1948 2,636,735 Neuhart Apr. 28, 1953 2,657,048 Saul Oct. 27, 1953 2,705,918 Koch Apr. 12, 1955 

